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2024.05.20 CC Packet
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2024.05.20 CC Packet
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City Council
Document Type
Minutes
Meeting Date
5/20/2024
Meeting Type
Regular
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Council Meeting Minutes for May 6, 2024 <br />Page 8 of 12 <br /> <br />surrounding Agricultural uses and explained how the solar farm would have a low impact on <br />adjacent properties. He said it was staff’s opinion that the proposal was compatible with the <br />character of the surrounding area. Staff had also reviewed the site plan requirements saying most <br />of them overlapped the IUP requirements except ones relating to stormwater management and <br />wetlands. Staff found that solar panels would not affect overall drainage patterns. There were <br />3.6 acres of wetlands on the site, and the solar array would be constructed in a portion of it, as <br />was permitted by ordinance. The applicant had received a no-loss exemption from the Technical <br />Evaluation Panel for the construction. <br /> <br />Gort concluded his presentation by saying staff had found the proposal met all requirements of <br />City Code. The Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval to the <br />Council with the two added conditions. He explained that based on feedback from the public <br />hearing and recent correspondence from neighboring residents relating to the character of the <br />area, staff drafted a resolution with findings of fact for denial for the Council to also consider. <br /> <br />Strub asked about barbed wire on the top of the fence that was mentioned during the Planning <br />Commission public hearing. Gort responded that the Planning Commission did not recommend <br />it being changed, and it is still on the plan. <br /> <br />Petryk asked if the applicant was the property owner or if it would be a long-term lease. Gort <br />replied that the applicant had a purchase agreement with the owner. <br /> <br />Weidt noted there were a lot of attendees that may want to speak, even though this was not a <br />public hearing. He asked the developer to speak first. <br /> <br />Evan Carlson from Enterprise Energy, 2925 Dean Parkway in Minneapolis, explained he was the <br />owner of the company and had the purchase agreement on the property. He said that about a <br />year and half ago, he started working on this project. He said he has a lot in it, and it is an <br />important project for him, and he intends to own it long term. He said he knew it was not popular <br />with surrounding landowners, so he wanted it to be done well. Carlson indicated he followed all <br />the requirements of the ordinance, which he found to be very robust, and they were using an area <br />that was not suited for anything else. Carlson said his wife was a veterinarian and has respect for <br />people who rehab animals. He said he understood their concerns and wanted to do his best to <br />address them and do it in a way that makes people happy. He talked about other solar panels in <br />the neighborhood saying the only difference was that these were on the ground. He said the City <br />had done a good job protecting the aesthetics of the neighborhood by requiring setbacks. In <br />addition to the vegetation management plan, they also did a tree survey so the impact would be <br />extremely minimal. Evan said the property was outside the MUSA, which he felt was a very <br />important characteristic, along with the owner of the property not being able to put a well and <br />septic on it, so this would be a productive way to utilize the land. A full SWPP was also done. <br />He commented on the City’s requirements that are reflected on the site plan saying they are very <br />robust, and he hoped he could gain respect from people by doing a good job. <br /> <br />Mayor Weidt opened it up for other comments. <br /> <br />John David Udstuen, 15190 Everton Avenue North, stated he was speaking on behalf of the <br />entire neighborhood who are 100% opposed. He said that per the ordinance, the solar farm was <br />to be compatible with the present character of the surrounding area, and this was not compatible. <br />Udstuen said he had countless reason why it was not but would only focus on a few. They have <br />large lots with single family homes and lots of open space with mature trees and wildlife. It’s
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